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Guide to Lymphedema
Guide to Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a prevalent condition that affects more than 4
million Americans and nearly 140 million people worldwide.
With limited treatment options available, a lymphedema
diagnosis can have a significant impact on your self-esteem,
daily activities and overall quality of life. At our state-of-the-art
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, we are committed to
providing the best treatment options available for lymphedema
to help you regain the quality of life you deserve.
What is Lymphedema?
Lymphedema is a chronic, debilitating condition that affects the
body’s lymphatic system. The lymphatic system, which is part
of your immune system, is comprised of your lymph nodes,
lymphatic channels, spleen, thymus gland, tonsils and adenoids.
It can detect and neutralize foreign cells and proteins, bacteria,
viruses and cancerous cells.
The lymphatic system is critical in maintaining bodily fluid
balance by absorbing and returning fluid that leaks from the
vascular system into the body’s tissues. This fluid is collected
from the tissues into small lymphatic channels, or vessels. These
vessels drain through a series of lymph nodes into a central
lymphatic channel, which then empties into the venous system.
When the body’s lymphatic vessels are unable to adequately
drain fluid, lymphedema occurs. This results in an accumulation
of lymphatic fluid, which causes abnormal swelling and pain to
occur in a particular part of the body. In many cases, this pain
and swelling will arise in the arms or legs.
Causes of Lymphedema
There are two types of lymphedema — primary and secondary.
Primary lymphedema is an inherited condition that is caused
by the abnormal development of the body’s lymphatic vessels.
Although rare, primary lymphedema tends to occur most often
in women. Common causes of primary lymphedema include:
Meige’s disease: This hereditary condition, also known
as lymphedema praecox, typically causes lymphedema to
develop during childhood or around the time of puberty.
However, it may not begin to show initial symptoms until
your 20s or even your early 30s. Meige’s disease causes the
body’s lymphatic vessels to form without the necessary
valves that prevent lymphatic fluid from flowing backward.
As a result, the body is unable to properly drain lymphatic
fluid from the limbs.
Milroy’s disease: Also known as congenital lymphedema,
Milroy’s disease is an inherited disorder that begins
during infancy. This condition causes the body’s lymph
nodes to form abnormally, which eventually leads to the
development of lymphedema.
Late-onset lymphedema: Late-onset lymphedema, or
lymphedema tarda, is a very rare condition that has no
known cause and does not begin developing until after
age 35.
While primary lymphedema is typically inherited, secondary
lymphedema occurs as a result of another disease, procedure
or treatment. Secondary lymphedema is much more common
than primary lymphedema, and it is often caused by damage
to the lymph nodes or vessels. Specific causes of secondary
lymphedema include:
Cancer: When cancerous cells block the body’s lymphatic
vessels, lymphedema may occur. For example, a tumor that
is located near a lymph node or vessel could become large
enough to hinder the proper flow of lymphatic fluid. As a
result, this may lead to the development of lymphedema.
Guide to Lymphedema
Radiation treatment: Radiation treatment for cancer can
lead to scarring and inflammation of the lymph nodes
and lymph vessels. Over time, this may restrict the flow of
lymphatic fluid and lead to lymphedema.
Surgery: When the body’s lymph nodes and vessels are
surgically removed or cut, lymphedema can occur. In many
cases, breast cancer patients must undergo a procedure
that involves the removal of one or more lymph nodes in
the armpit in order to determine if the cancer has spread.
If the body’s remaining lymph nodes and vessels are unable
to compensate for the nodes and vessels that have been
removed, lymphedema may develop in the patient’s arm.
Infection: Recurrent infections that affect the lymph
system may cause damage and result in lymphedema
or make the existing lymphedema worse. Patients with
lymphedema are at a greater risk for developing
recurrent infections.
Medications: Certain medications, such as tamoxifen, have
been known to cause lymphedema.
Symptoms of Lymphedema
When you have been diagnosed with lymphedema, the
symptoms can have a debilitating effect on your quality of life.
Over time, these symptoms can progressively worsen, especially
if left untreated. Common symptoms of lymphedema include:
•
Pain or discomfort in the affected limb
•
Restricted range of motion
•
Swelling in the affected limb
•
A feeling of heaviness or tightness in the affected area
•
Fatigue
•
Hardening, thickening or discoloration of the skin
overlying the lymphedema
•
Recurring infections in the affected limb
While not as common, lymphedema may also lead to a
deformity known as elephantiasis when left untreated.
Treatment at the Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery Center
Until recently, decongestive therapy, which involves
intensive massaging and compression, was the only available
treatment option for lymphedema patients. While compression
garments and pump therapy offer some degree of symptom
relief, these therapies can be time-consuming and often fail to
provide long-term curative results.
At the UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health, our plastic
and reconstructive surgeons are among a handful of surgeons
in the country — and the only in Florida — to perform a
revolutionary procedure known as a vascularized lymph node
transfer. This reconstructive procedure, which offers complete
or near-complete elimination of lymphedema, involves the
harvesting and transferring of healthy lymph nodes and vessels
from a viable donor site to the affected lymphedemic limb.
Guide to Lymphedema
Our specially trained surgeons employ advanced microsurgical
techniques to transfer five to eight healthy lymph nodes into the
affected body part. Over time, these vascularized lymph nodes
will grow new lymphatic channels, bridging the gap between the
blocked and unblocked vessels and allowing the lymphatic fluid
to drain properly.
The revolutionary vascularized lymph node transfer has shown
promising long-term results for many of our patients. Following
the procedure, patients typically experience an overall decrease
or complete resolution of lymphedema symptoms. This includes
reduced pain, swelling and tightness in the arm, improved range
of motion and a feeling of lightness in the affected limb. Many
patients begin to see symptom improvement within one to two
months following the surgery, and maximum results are typically
achieved within two years.
At our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, our expert
surgeons are committed to providing the most advanced
treatment options available for lymphedema. It is our goal to
help you return to the normal, pain-free lifestyle you deserve
Jeffrey Feiner, MD; Richard Klein, MD, MPH, FACS;
Kenneth Lee, MD, FACS.
If you are experiencing severe pain, swelling, heaviness or tightness in your arms
or legs, contact us right away to schedule an appointment. Our knowledgeable
and experienced specialists are here to help.
Call 321.843.7771 to schedule an appointment.
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